By Zephyria 
I had recently heard a rather impressive story, which led to a misunderstanding. I couldn’t imagine how often Demian from the Management Department must have been praised. Feeling embarrassed, I roughly covered my awkward face with one hand and introduced myself to those who had answered in order of their standing.
This was also quite different from the Central Plains. In the Central Plains, there was no need to say, “I am Namgung Jeong-yeon.” When I introduced myself, it was always sufficient to say, “I am from Namgung.”
“My name is Michael Ernhardt… and I’m from the Swordsmanship Department.”
From the girl with purple hair to the boy with gray hair, after introducing themselves in order of their standing, I had nothing else to do but sit there blankly.
I didn’t know what else to say. I felt like a foal among chickens. Or perhaps, a wild boar squeezed among someone else’s chicks.
As I sat there, Demian, the gray-haired boy who had taken the lead in the self-introductions earlier, let out a sigh and looked at me, opening his mouth.
“Should I call you Young Master Ernhardt?”
“Hmm… No. Jenny is here, and everyone tends to use shorter names, which is more comfortable. Please call me Michael.”
“Alright. Then please call me by my name, Demian.”
“Ah, then me too, by name.”
“Yes. Then Marianne, Jenny, Ah… Aiden.”
“Ivan.”
“Ivan, Demian.”
“Yes, that’s right. Let’s call each other that.”
Feeling apologetic for misremembering a name, I glanced over. The boy with chestnut hair, who casually nodded to convey that it was alright, put my mind at ease with his gaze.
Perhaps it was due to the mild climate and the nation’s prosperity, or perhaps it was because they had gathered well-raised children of tender age. I was pleased and happy that most of the children had gentle and kind dispositions.
“I’m happy we’ve become close enough to call you by your name, the famous Young Master Michael. You said you were a Sword Expert, advanced level, right?”
“Mm. It’s nothing special.”
“…Haha, you don’t have to be so humble. I know you’re not very talkative, so I won’t misunderstand.”
Misunderstand what? I perked up my head. Whatever it was, it was clear that Marianne, who had spoken first, was the one who felt uncomfortable, not Demian, who was earnestly trying to defend me.
I cautiously gauged the situation, nodded, and added, “Um… It’s not that I’m shy, but I’m not very good at interacting with people my age. I would be grateful if you could teach me.”
“Ah, that, no. I thought I had asked something unnecessary…”
I had a rough idea why Shayden sang his seven-syllable songs whenever he had time, and I realized I had made a mistake in my etiquette.
It wasn’t difficult to consistently use polite language, but while I knew how to handle men, I was awkward and clumsy when dealing with girls. Young girls often burst into tears whenever they saw me, and I never got assigned to teach them swordsmanship, so I felt very awkward.
“It seems the two of you already knew each other.”
“We’ve only met a few times at parties in the vicinity.”
The only banquet I had attended was my own birthday banquet, so Demian, who was not Danbi, must have been one of the boys who came to celebrate my birthday. Feeling apologetic for not recognizing him, I hummed and glanced over again, trying to memorize his face.
He was a boy with ash-colored hair resembling a pigeon and brown eyes, giving him a generally hazy impression. Though I couldn’t see clearly as he was seated, the two girls were shorter than me, and the two boys were slightly taller.
A few questions and answers about each other were exchanged intimately. Even Jenny, who had been hesitant to speak at first, soon smiled and brought up various topics. Stories about their families, hobbies, and special skills circulated like rounds of drinks.
Marianne was from a noble family, and her older sisters also practiced magic. Jenny, though a commoner, dreamed of obtaining the Single Ascent Title and becoming an official in the Imperial Palace.
Ivan was a man of few words, so he focused on agreeing or nodding. Whenever the conversation turned to him, the corners of his thick eyebrows drooped slightly, making him look gentle.
Demian, on the other hand, was very adept at coordinating all the conversations and matching everyone’s moods. When my explanations were insufficient, he would add a sentence or correct my slip of the tongue, actions that reminded me of Shayden.
He was calmer than Shayden and never raised his voice, so I naturally found myself relying on him.
When Professor Cedric asked us to choose a leader for each group, we unanimously nominated Demian. He accepted with a short sigh, but there was no sign of displeasure.
After class, seeing Shayden and Demian bid each other farewell intimately, I realized anew how oblivious I had been.
They explained that it was natural for the young masters and ladies from noble families living near the capital to be interested in each other, and that I wasn’t particularly strange or lacking. They even boasted that since many young masters and ladies of the ducal and baronial ranks knew about me, no one would blame me if I just greeted them properly.
Shayden and I had more to talk about during dinner than before.
Perhaps it was because the emotional distance had narrowed, or perhaps it was because I had made several new friends today. Shayden also said he liked his group because there were many good kids in it, and I shared my thoughts about the children I had met, saying I had memorized their names but was confused about their surnames.
After dinner, Shayden wrote down the names of the people I had met today directly into my academy notebook. He also wrote down their hair and eye colors, which greatly relieved me.
Shayden knew many things I didn’t, so as we looked at the notebook together, I suddenly asked a question.
“In the magic class… there’s that person you said to be cautious of.”
“Edwin Kiadris?”
“Yes, him. You said he was in a higher grade than me, so why is he taking a basic class?”
“Hmm, that’s… probably because Edwin wants to take all the magic classes at the academy before graduating. So, Professor Angela Sting is as famous in the magic world as Professor Maelo Sanson. While teachers are important in all fields of study, this is especially true for magic and swordsmanship.”
I understood completely. Recalling the shining eyes of the magic department students and how they politely raised their hands only to the top of their heads, waiting for their turn to ask questions, I nodded involuntarily.
Although it hadn’t even been a full week since I enrolled in the academy, the help I had received from Maelo Sanson was immense. Thinking that it would be the same for wizards, I resolved to listen quietly and attentively during magic classes from now on.
“The school is so large, it’s hard to find my way around. I wish every young master and lady wore name tags.”
“Mmm… I wish so too. And if possible, in a bright yellow color…”
It was an impossible dream. I opened my academy notebook, reread it several times, then sent Shayden to the next room and went back to the martial arts training ground. Reviewing the martial arts of Namgung brought me enlightenment, so I needed to refine them further before learning new sword techniques.
❖ ❖ ❖
In this advanced swordsmanship class, I watched Benjamin spar. I was greatly impressed by his ability to calmly discard feints and find the true moves amidst the wild onslaught of the senior student’s swordplay.
After class, Benjamin, who had already made plans with Shayden, took me along. After we had a meal together, we moved to our next class location.
Benjamin was more taciturn than Shayden and paid attention to personal space. Although it was inconvenient to look up at him due to his height, I enjoyed discussing our sword styles. I told him about the heavy sword and Jongnam’s sword that I knew.
Middle Stance
(A stance where one draws their sword and points it directly in front of their body, aiming at the opponent)
When I spoke about generating energy while maintaining this stance to pressure the opponent, Benjamin laughed for a long time and said that one would need a lot of aura to generate energy like that.
Come to think of it, all the Jongnam masters I knew had immense internal energy, so I replied that it was so, and he readily answered that he would try his best, which was satisfactory.
Professor Douglas Mustang, who taught the class “Mana and Aura, Aura and Mana,” was a man who bore a slight resemblance to Benjamin.
The man, nearing forty, gave a brief self-introduction and then took out a staff, similar in length to a sword. The class was held not in a classroom but in a wide open space resembling a martial arts training ground, with all buildings set far apart, hinting at the nature of the lesson.
“As you all know, aura and mana are energies born from the same origin. Just as apples from the same tree can become apple juice or cider, it’s the same principle. It depends on how they are processed.”
The professor’s dark face was smooth, without a single strand of beard. He maintained a smiling expression throughout. His friendly face and quiet, gentle speech felt incongruous.
“Most knights generate aura through concentration and physical training. Consistent practice and discipline allow one to know oneself and open the eyes to perceive the immaterial realm. This is crucial for physical enhancement and increasing the cutting power of weapons, thus becoming the dream and goal of knights.”
Professor Mustang paused for a breath, surveyed the students, and continued, “On the other hand, wizards understand mana through learning. First, they comprehend the properties of mana and the existence of the immaterial realm with their minds, then they contact the immaterial realm according to established formulas, refine mana with their bodies, and project it further out to exert influence on the material world. Therefore, wizards prioritize having a wider and stronger mental pathway.”
Although I was a little disappointed at first because the energy Professor Mustang was drawing seemed to be less than half a step, the aura that manifested on the staff and the bright light that bloomed at its tip between his pauses captivated my eyes.
Even without activating my Eye Technique, the flow of energy was clearly visible. The delicate work, like embroidering with mana, was incredibly fascinating.
Among the thirty students attending the class, the majority were from the Swordsmanship Department. I thought that students from the Magic Department might already know this content, as they were accustomed to desk work.
Professor Mustang had the students spread out at a considerable distance and instructed those who couldn’t use aura to swing their swords repeatedly with maximum concentration. Sensing that there was definitely something to learn, I diligently followed the professor’s instructions.